Gate for railway crossings



4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

W. HANLEY 8a MQB. MILLS.

GATE POB. RAILWAY GROSSNGS. No. 301,589. Patented July 8, M384.

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(No ModeL) 4 S-hBetS-Sheet 3.

W. HAN 8v M. B. LS.

, GATE Po LWAY GROS s. No. 801,589. Patented July 8, 1884.

UNITED l STATES PATENT Erice..

i l VILLIAM HANLEY AND MORTIMER B. MILLS, OF CHICAGO, ILLNOIS.

GATEFOR RAILWAY-Geoscience.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 301,589, dated July S, 1884. i Application filed November 28, 1,883. (No model.)

To all whom, rmay concern.:

Beit known that we, WILLIAM HANLEY and Gogh and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful- Improvements in Gates for Railroad-Crossings; and we hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

Our invention relates to the class of gates for railway-crossings, bridges, ferries, and the like, each gate comprising two parts, consisting of two standards or posts located on opposite sides of the gate-opening, each standard supporting a gatebar pivoted upon it, and

capable of a wertically-swinging motion, effected by suitable mechanism, whereby the bars'maybe lowered in a direction toward each other to meet at a desired point, thus A 2Q forming a barrier to prevent the passage of vehicles, 85o., and raised at the proper tim to permit such passage.

It is the purpose of our invention to provide gates-one for each side of a crossing-` the bars of which, forming the gates, may be operated from a single post to form both gates simultaneously, or only one gate at a time, as the will of the operator shall direct.

Our invention consists in the particular mechanisms hereinafter' described and claimed,

4o equal advantages when used in other connections wherein the same objects are to be attained as are accomplished in its adaptation as shown in the drawings.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective 4.5 view of a railway-crossing provided with our improved gates;` Fig. 2, a rear view of the operating-posnhaving the cap removed to y show the mechanism for working the gates; Fig. 3, a vertical section taken on the line 33 5o' of Fig. 2,viewed in the direction of the arrowheads; Fig. a, a vertical section taken through one of the other posts,showing the mechanism by meansof which the pivoted bars are raised and lowered; Fig. 5, a transverse section of the device represented in Fig. l, showing the connection between the force and exhaust mechanisms and Fig. 6 a sectional view showing the construction of details.

, A is the post from which the pivoted bar which it supports and the bars supported by the posts A', A2, and A3 are operated, and which therefore contains the mechanism whereby Aatmospheric pressure is generated to raise pr lower the gates, raising or lowering them by either condensed orexhaust air pressure, ydepending upon the position of the piston-rod, (see Figs. 3 and 4,) being either in vfront of or behind the point of equilibrium in the pivoted bars.

B, Figs. 2 and 3, is an atmospheriepressure `pump worked by the handle n, and communieating by means of the pipe t with the aircylinder C, and by means of connectingpipes s s with the pipes t', t, and t3, and through the medium of the lastnamed with the exhaust cylinder D. Communication of one tube with either or all of the others and with the condensed air and exhaust cylinders is opened 0r closed by means of suitable taps, r, r', r'l, and if', the last-named of which is of a construction different from the other taps, as willhereina-iter be particularly described. The pipe t leads to the post A,.where it communicates, by means of a branch pipe, z, as shown in Fig. 4 ofthe drawings, with a cylinder, E, Fig. 4, .carrying a piston and rod, Q, and the same pipe, t', communicates at its opposite end, also by means of a branch pipe, z, `(see Fig. 3,) with the cylinder E', carrying the piston and rod g',

Fig. 3. The pipe #Pin the operating-post leads to the post A2, and thence to thepost A3, communicating at each with a cylinder and piston, in the manner described in connection with the posts A- and A.

G, Fig. 2, is a suction-pump operated by the handle l, Fig. l, and communicating, by

-means of the pipe t, with the exhaustcylinvends,- are pivoted leach to a post at a'point, fr,

which is the center ot' gravity of each bar. Secured to the under side ot' the cap 0, toward the rear end of each bar, somewhat forward of the center of gravity, is an arm, F, (see Figs. 3 and 4,) preferably of the form shown, and provided with an opening" near one extremity to receive the bolt n, upon which a link, m, is secured near one end, the link being pivotally secured at its opposite end to the piston-rod. The positions of the arm F and piston are necessarily somewhat to one side of the center of gravity, though they are preferably in vertical line, or nearly so, with each other, in order that the length of the arm F may be of the minimum. As shown in the drawings, and as the construction is intended to be, each bar will, when raised or lowered, describe a quarter of a circle, being prevented from moving in abackward direction from its perpendicular position owing to the fact that the inner surface of the cap o bears against the rear side of the post, and in a forward direction from its horizontal position owing to the fact that the inner surface of the cap o rests upon the top of the post, a stop being thus afforded in either instance. The sweep described by the links m in the operation of the bars is of course like that of the bars themselves-an are forming onefourth of a circle, the dimension of this arc obviously depending upon the distance of the center of the said circle from the pivotal point of each bar. The greater such distance the greater the sweep, and consequent necessary length, of the link m. The smallest practicable sweep attainable for the link m, when the resting-points of the head thereof will be vertically opposite each other upon the segment of the arc of the sweep, is acquired by locat ing the center ofthe circle, the mechanism being formed as hereinbefore described, about six inches from the pivotal point of each bar. The piston-rods and cylinders are suitably supported by means of bracesk. It should be borne in mind that the bars are balanced at their pivotal points, and would remain in a horizontal position of their own accord when lowered, from which it would not require very great power to start them to rise, and but suffcient to counteract the friction at the pivotal point to cause them to continue rising, so that it will readily be understood that they are necessarily operated in one directionby condensed force or pressure and in the other by suction or exhaust force, the use of the one or the other for either purpose depending upon the position of the piston mechanism and arm F, whether in front of or behind the pivotal point .fr-that is to say, if they are to be lowered by suction force and raised by condensed force, these parts would have to operate in front of, and if vice versa they should be behind, the pivotal points. It is preferred to provide means whereby the rear ends of the swinging bars may be rendered heavier than the opposite ends, in order that (the piston operating, as then preferred, in front of the pivotal point, and the lowering being effected by exhaustair or suction lforce and the raising by con` densed-air force) the greater or suction power and the lesser or pressure power shall be nearly, if not quite, equalized in their effect upon the arms. This variation in the respective weights of the opposite ends of the bars is preferably produced, as shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 4 of the drawings, by sliding weights H.

Having by the foregoing prepared for the description of the operation of our device, we proceed to describe its operation, which is as follows: Suppose the four pivoted bars to be in the perpendicular position represented of the arms A and A in Fig. l, and that it is desired to lower them all simultaneously. The cylinder C having previously been charged with air by means of the pump B, and the taps r, r', and r2 opened, (the normal state of the two lastnamed being open,) condensed air will have entered into the pipes t and t2 froln the cylinder C, and have passed hence to the cylinders in the posts containing each .a piston and rod, thus having caused the latter t0 raise the pivoted bars to a perpendicular position. To lower themrthe tap r is closed and the tap r3 opened, to permit the air contained in the pipes t and t2 to rush into the exhaust provided in the cylinder D by means of the pump G, whereby the bars are lowered by the exhaust thus produced in the said pipes. The pipes tand t3 are preferably twice the diameter of the pipes t and t2 and the latter twice that of the branch tubes z. The reason for this difference in the diameters of the pipes is obvious. Both pipes t and t2 are charged from the pipe t and exhausted through the pipe t3, and each pipe IOO t and t2 operates two pistons through the medium of branch pipes z, which are formed of one-half the diameter of the pipes t and t?, in order that the two opposite bars, operated through either of the said pipes, may work simultaneously and without too great force and velocity. Neither of these desirable results could be accomplished if the main and vwith a velocity and force that would cause it to rebound and greatly strain the parts. The difference, also, between the diameters of the cylinders C and D and pipes t and t3 is purposely considerable, that of the latter being not necessarily more than one-half an inch, while 'that of the former may be six inches or more, the object of this difference being to render frequent operation of the pumps unnecessary.

The construction of the tap r3, as before stated, differs somewhat from that of the other taps, in the fact that it may be opened farther than is necessary to establish communication with lthe different pipes, as described, in order to admit air from without through the tube g, as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, to create a normal atmospheric pressure of about fifteen pounds to the square inch within the pipes t and t2 before bringing the compressed air from the cylinder C into requisition, when it is de'- rio' in clearing the tracks.

opened to iill the pipes t and t'2 with compressed air, and thereby operate the pistons to raise the gates.

It may frequently happen .that it is desired to close, and not frequently, if ever, though it may be done, to open, o ne gate at a time. Necessity for the first-named operation will occur when a vehicle is already uponand crossing the track, and it is desired to place a barrier before vehicles immediately behind it, but to offer no impediment to the first-named This is effected by closing either the tap r or the tap r2, depending upon wheth er the gate formed by the arms A and A or that formed. by the arms A2 and A? is to be lowered, so that the exhaust Will be produced only in the one or the other, the closing ofthe remaining arms being effected at the proper time by merely opening the tap r' or 9' which has been closed. To raise' one side at a time, either tap r or r2 and the tap r, the latter to its full extent to admit air from Without, are opened, and the exhaust produced in only one ofthe pipes t or t2, and in the other at the proper time by opening the tap which had previously been closed.

` The sliding Weight H is not an essential fealture of our device when` operated by both pressure and exhaust, but isuseful if ever it should become necessary to use only the one or the other, since it will suffice alone to raise .or lower the arms, if the counteracting eil'ect of suction or pressure, as the case may be, is removed'. In all cases it is intended that the sliding weight shall be detachable and adjustable either behind or in front of the center of gravity.

It may sometimes be advisable to form gates not only on each side of a crossing, but like- Wise on each side of the various tracks upon the crossing. This may readily be done Without changing the operative principle ofour invention, the only change necessary being in the relative dimensions of the pipes.

It is possible to operate our device without the use of the exhaust-cylinder D, when the pump G and pipe if* could be dispensed with,

by permitting the air contained in the different pipes to exhaust through the tap r3 into space; and under some conditions this maybe the preferred construction, though ordinarily the cylinder D will be found useful in producing smooth and rapid action of the device.

IVhat We claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a vertically-swinging gate, the combination, with the bars pivotally secured to posts, of mechanism actuated by atmospheric pressure to operate the bars, said mechanism comprising a cylinder, C, pressure-pump B, communicating with the said cylinder by means of a pipe, t, pipes t, t', and t2, provided with taps r, r', and l, and rendered communicable with each-other and with the cylinder C by means of suitable conuecting-pipe,ss, and a piston cylinder and rod for each bar, communicati-ng with the pipes t and t, all being arranged to operate substantially as described.

2. In a vertically-swinging gate, the combination, With the bars pivotally secured to l posts, of mechanism actuated by atmospheric pressure to operate the bars, said ymechanism comprising a cylinder, D, exhaust-pump G, communicating with the said cylinder by -means of a pipe, t, pipes t3, t2, and t', provided with taps r3, r?, and fr', and rendered communicable with each other and with the cylinder D by means of suitable connecting-pipe, s s, and a piston cylinder and rod for each bar, communicating with the pipes t' and t2, all being arranged to operate substantially as described.

3. In combination with vertically-swinging gates, mechanism for operating the said gates,

C. C. LiN'rHIcUM, DOUGLAS Drnnnronrn.

IOO 

